When the greats come to town
VETERAN drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo is ready to wow his fans at Luthuli Museum in Groutville and Seaman’s Corner in Hammarsdale next Friday and Saturday as part of his KwaZulu-Natal tour.
Moholo-Moholo will entertain with his vibrant and free-wheeling improvisations that will be delivered during Heritage Month by a jazz group comprising old and young musicians.
Originally from Cape Town, the 74-year-old has always been passionate about drumming and has collaborated with many groups that have earned him recognition from the Guardian in the UK for “making some of the great jazz of his time”.
Forced to escape apartheid, he left South Africa for Europe in 1964 with the Blue Notes which included Chris McGregor, Johnny Dyani, Nikele Moyake, Mongezi Feza and Dudu Pukwana. In 1966 he finally settled in London where he formed part of a South African exile community that made an important contribution to British jazz.
He was also a member of the Brotherhood of Breath, a big band that integrated several South African exiles and musicians of the British free jazz scene in the 1970s.
After 30 years in exile, Moholo-Moholo returned to South Africa in 2005.
Currently the only surviving Blue Notes member, Moholo-Moholo still has the passion for jazz. His musical projects always have a cuttingedge sound which incorporates great meditative energy.
His performance on Friday and Saturday will also feature Andile Yenana on keys, Mandla Mlangeni on trumpet, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Sisonke Xonti on saxophone and Ariel Zamonsky on double bass.
Both performances start at 6pm and entrance is R30.